The IABM Technology and Trends Roadmap isn’t just for industry technologists to use as a reference. IABM has discovered industry execs using it as a starting point for their keynote speeches: product line managers are using it to plot their own products; and corporate board members get a better understanding of where the company’s products sit on the adoption curve, hence a better grasp or risks vs gross margins. This also assists marketing activities by giving an indication of how best to promote products within M&E and adjacent/vertical market areas.
Bridging the AI skills gap: essential knowledge for media professionals
The media landscape is in the midst of a seismic shift. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the game-changer that’s reshaping how media is produced, distributed, and consumed. Whether you’re in advertising, journalism, content creation, or any corner of the media world, there’s no escaping it: AI is here, and it’s not just for the tech gurus. The most challenging aspect is that once again, even our most seasoned media professionals may need to play catch-up on another emerging technology that is becoming pervasive in everything we do.
Young Person of the Year – bring on the talent
Every year at the IABM Annual Awards, IABM recognizes the Andrew Jones Young Person of Year with a special award. The competition for the 2024 award was particularly intense. In the end, the award went to Ciaran Ennis, Associate Engineer at Techex. However, any of the shortlisted candidates would have been worthy winners in their own right.
We spoke to the shortlisted candidates to find out what brought them into the MediaTech industry, what they enjoy about it and how they see their futures unfolding. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and personal drive is a common factor for all of them – as is the support and mentorship they have received. What follow is an inspiring read in its own right and also provides an excellent insight into how to foster the new talent our industry needs to continue to thrive.
MISTV – Are we going back to linear? If so, what’s the impact on advertising? What role does AI have?
Beyond news and sports, many viewers have seemingly replaced standard linear broadcast with on-demand. This is particularly true with the generation that grew up with MP3 players and making their own playlist, rather than simply listening to a whole album. Now we appear to be moving back into a type of customized linear viewing habit. Whether you’re sitting at home (or anywhere for that matter) people are back to just watching programs which we called “couch potatoes”. They are series binge watching, continuously locked into niche channels, or just sitting there watching clips flying by endlessly. When you look at the Nielsen Research, YouTube has captured 11% of the main TV screen in the home.
I call this “on-demand linear”. We are even seeing these niche FAST channels delivered over-the-air now and I wanted to dig deeper into this with respect to advertising as linear is still the “cash-cow” for the broadcast business due to advertising.
I had the fantastic opportunity to ask these questions to Jiří Gabriel, COO of MISTV, who supplies complex solutions for advertising sales, rights, content and broadcast management worldwide.
MediaKind – Creativity in the Age of AI
Independent content creators are no longer just challengers. They’re redefining the media landscape and going toe-to-toe with traditional broadcasters and major streaming giants for audience loyalty. A prime example of this shift? The recent Sidemen Charity Match, where over 90,000 fans packed Wembley Stadium to watch YouTube’s biggest stars compete on the football field. This event demonstrates how online influencers can now command the type of dedicated audiences once reserved for mainstream sports and entertainment events.
Amplify – How AI and automation are revolutionizing creativity in content production
Our industry stands at a fascinating crossroads. AI and automation have evolved beyond mere efficiency tools to become genuine catalysts for creative expression. Content teams everywhere face mounting pressure—viewers want more content, they want it faster, and they want it accessible across global markets. Would AI be capable of meeting these challenges without sacrificing the human touch that makes great content resonate?
Amagi – How AI and automation is transforming channel programming
Traditionally, TV programming has relied on manual scheduling, which can be time-consuming and repetitive. As the media landscape becomes increasingly fragmented with the rise of numerous streaming platforms and broadcast channels, traditional scheduling methods are proving inefficient. The challenge for broadcasters and channel programmers today is to deliver engaging content while optimizing operational efficiency. AI-powered automation has emerged as a solution, transforming linear TV scheduling into a seamless process, enabling programmers to focus on creative storytelling and audience engagement.
AlvaLinks unveils AI-powered network observability
It happens all too often. A high-profile live broadcast is in progress, millions of viewers are tuned in, and suddenly—buffering. The screen freezes. Panic sets in. Engineers scramble to identify the cause, only to be met with the all-too-familiar response from network providers: “It’s not on our end.”
For years, media and broadcast companies have battled invisible network disruptions, struggling to pinpoint whether the issue stems from their infrastructure, a third-party provider, or somewhere deep within the network maze. Traditional monitoring solutions fail to provide real-time, end-to-end visibility, leaving teams playing an endless game of blame and guesswork.
Alpha Cogs – The democratization of technology: how computational power is transforming industries
The evolution of professional audiovisual technology was once limited to organizations with significant financial and technical resources. However, rapid advancements in computational power, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence have altered this landscape. Today, sophisticated audiovisual tools are no longer restricted to large studios but are transforming industries such as media, fashion, sports, and luxury.
AgileTV – Hyper-personalized viewing and AI-optimized monetization: the future of TV services
As television consumption continues to evolve, service providers must embrace new technologies to remain competitive. The traditional model of content delivery, where viewers passively consume programming on rigid schedules, is long gone. Today, audiences expect seamless, personalized, and on-demand experiences that cater to their preferences, interests, and habits. At the same time, monetization strategies are becoming more sophisticated, moving beyond basic subscription models to incorporate advertising, hybrid AVOD/SVOD approaches, and real-time data-driven revenue opportunities.